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iPhones accounted for almost half of October, November smartphone sales
Market research group NPD is reporting some good news for Apple ahead of the January 24 earnings call. The three models of the iPhone that are currently for sale -- the iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS -- accounted for 43 percent of US smartphone sales in October and November. Android phones saw a significant drop of 13 percent of share during that same period, while Apple's share bumped up 17 percent. Where are RIM and Windows Phone handsets in all of this insanity? Well, RIM saw a 6 percent share in the US, while Windows Phone and "all others" were barely above the zero line. At least in the American market, iOS and Android have the market and mind share for smartphones. As noted on Macgasm, the iPhone 3GS outsold every model of Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone handset during the October-November timeframe. Of course, the 3GS is now free from AT&T, so it's hard to compete with a no-cost handset and an application base of over half a million apps.
PSA: iPhone alarm clock not working again? Time to update
Hey, remember that madcap time last year when iPhone alarms didn't work on January 1st or 2nd? Still having the same issue this year? Well, you might want to think about updating. We're seeing a flood of reports from users whose alarm clocks are not working again this year, but from what we're able to tell that's because the affected users haven't updated their devices past iOS 4.2.1. If that includes you, dear reader, now would be a great time to tether yourself and click your way through whatever iTunes recommends. There's a whole new major version out there waiting for you! That said, if you're still enjoying your iPhone 3G, we're sorry to say 4.2.1 is as high as you can go on the iOS food chain. Maybe 2012 is a good year for a new phone? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Spire installer brings Siri to any jailbroken iOS 5 device, legally -- proxy still required
A few months of work by iOS hackers Grant Paul (aka chpwn), Steven Troughton-Smith and Ryan Petrich has culminated in the release of Spire, a new installer that will easily set up Siri on your jailbroken iOS 5 device. While Apple has kept its little helper exclusively constrained to the iPhone 4S, it now runs on iPads, iPhone 4, iPod touches and the iPhone 3GS, and while that's been done before they claim the other new trick is that it's legal, avoiding the copyright infringement inherent in previous hacks. When installed it will initiate a 100MB download of Siri directly from Apple so watch your bandwidth limits, and also be prepared to set up your own proxy server with donated info from an iPhone 4S to hold the line between Apple's backend and yourself. It's available on Cydia now so if you've been waiting for a way to get this feature for yourself it's not far away, however Troughton-Smith tells 9to5 Mac that the next major step may not come until the iPhone 4S is jailbroken and they can avoid the proxy server issues altogether.
ultrasn0w bumped to version 1.2.5, now unlocking even more iOS 5.0.1 devices
Given that you're out on Christmas break and all, isn't it about time you finally tried out that whole "unlocking" thing you've been hearing about? A new build of ultrasn0w just hit the Cydia app store, with v1.2.5 adding more support for iOS 5.0.1. Of note, novice jailbreakers may want to reach out to more experienced pals before embarking, as you'll need a a compatible baseband in order for the unlock to work. The iPhone 3GS (running iOS 5.0.1.) is supported with the following basements: 04.26.08 – 05.11.07 – 05.12.01 – 05.13.04 – 06.15.00. The iPhone 4 is supported if your baseband checks in as 01.59.00. If you're looking to upgrade from a dustier firmware, make sure you preserve your baseband before unlocking. Hit the source link for a few tips, and remember: friends don't let friends jailbreak before completing a backup.
iPhones, iPod Touches still on iOS 3.1.3 can't download new apps directly from the App Store
While fragmentation is a rare(r) problem on iOS there's still quite a few users rocking older versions on their devices. Unfortunately for them, ever since a recent update on the 16th they haven't been able to download any new apps from the App Store straight to their devices. While users of older iPod Touches and iPhones stuck on 3.1.3 by choice or incompatibility with newer OSes can still update the apps they already have and transfer software from iTunes on a computer, they can't buy or install new ones directly from the device. We were able to confirm the issue on one of our own devices, while there's a pretty lengthy thread in Apple's support forum about the issue, but no official response yet. We'll keep you posted if word comes that this is just a glitch or if the company has decided to leave those old versions on the outside looking in. [Thanks, Domo]
iOS 5.1 beta 2 out of the oven, ready for developer consumption
Ready to kick off Monday with some iOS flashing? Excellent, because Apple's just released the second beta of iOS 5.1, lovingly christened 9B5127c. No Cupertino devices at Engadget HQ have taken the plunge, but as noted by MacRumors, the beta enables individual picture deletion from Photo Stream -- which differs from the existing delete all or nothing implementation. Too early to tell if it'll finally squash any lingering battery bugs once and for all, but you can hit Apple's developer website to get your download on -- just be ready for the next one in two weeks, cool? [Thanks, Haseeb]
Motorola wins injunction against Apple Sales International in German patent dispute (update: Apple appeals)
After issuing a default judgment against Apple last month, Germany's Mannheim Regional Court has now granted a "preliminarily enforceable" injunction against Ireland-based Apple Sales International, on the grounds that its products may violate some of Motorola Mobility's patents. At issue is Motorola's European Patent 1010336 (B1), which covers a "method for performing a countdown function during a mobile-originated transfer for a packet radio system." According to Foss Patents, the court's injunction encompasses the iPhone (3G, 3GS and 4), iPad 3G and iPad2 3G. The ruling also states that Apple can avoid the injunction if it removes the patent-infringing elements from its devices, though it's more likely that Cupertino will appeal to the Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court, in the hopes of obtaining a stay. We've already reached out to Apple for comment, and will update this post as soon as we get more information. Update: And as expected, Apple intends to appeal the ruling which, if enforced, would only apply to future shipments. So grab that existing stock while you can.
Mophie, Best Buy recalls overheating cases
A couple of recall notices went out earlier today for Mophie and Rocketfish battery cases. Mophie is recalling the Juice Pack Air for the fourth-generation iPod touch. Affected models will have the first five digits of the serial number be between TR113 and TR120. Mophie said a small number of those units might overheat, causing the plastic to deform and damage the iPod touch. Those with affected units should stop using them and call (877) 308-4581 or fill out a form through Mophie's site. Best Buy has issued a recall for its Rocketfish mobile battery case model RF-KL12, which appears on the inner surface of the case. These are for the iPhone 3 and 3GS. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada said the case could possibly overheat while charging, causing a fire hazard. There were 14 cases of this happening in the U.S. with three of those incidents causing minor burns and another four causing property damage. Those with affected units should stop using them and contact Best Buy at (800) 917-5737 or visit its recall site. Affected customers are eligible for a Best Buy gift card for $70 in the U.S. or $105 in Canada. [Via Macworld]
Jailbroken iOS 5 devices get Siri0us, tap into Nuance's dictation servers (video) (update)
Sure, it's leaps and bounds away from all the parlor tricks that Siri is able to perform, but now, jailbroken iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch devices -- that have been upgraded to iOS 5 -- may access the dictation portion of Siri's prowess. Thanks to Siri0us, the free app available through Cydia, users will gain the option to speak messages and search queries rather than type them, which could be a huge time saver -- unless there's a series of mistakes, anyway. Rather than accessing Apple's own system, the app works by tapping into Nuance's Dragon Go servers for speech recognition. Rather subversive, don't you think? If you'd like to get in on the fun (before Nuance breaks up the party), just check the video following the break. Update: Well, who didn't see this one coming? Nuance has pulled the rug out from under Siri0us, and the app has been yanked from Cydia while the developer searches for another speech recognition server. Happy hunting, dude.
Thanks to iOS 5, some users lose WiFi connectivity
Of all the enhancements to discover in Apple's iOS 5 upgrade, it seems that an unforeseen monster may have snuck its way into the release. We're now reading through a handful of user complaints about losing WiFi after taking the plunge, with most replies mentioning intermittent connectivity and / or a significant loss in signal strength. The issue remains unconfirmed by Apple, but it appears to span across a number of devices, including the iPhone 4S, 4 and 3GS, along with the iPad (and possibly, the iPod Touch). By troubleshooting, one user was able to resolve the problem by reverting to iOS 4.3, then cause it to manifest -- once again -- by upgrading to iOS 5. The recent iOS 5.0.1 update certainly hasn't fixed the matter, either. Could these reports be an unfortunate series of unrelated events, or is there something larger at play? Sound off about your experience with WiFi and iOS 5 in the comments below. [Thanks, Iain]
Holiday Gift Guide: Buying an iPhone
Welcome to TUAW's 2011 Holiday Gift Guide! We're here to help you choose the best gifts this holiday season, and once you've received your gifts we'll tell you what apps and accessories we think are best for your new Apple gear. Stay tuned every weekday from now until the end of the year for our picks and helpful guides and check our Gift Guide hub to see our guides as they become available. For even more holiday fun, check out sister site Engadget's gift guide. Two years ago, my best friend bought his wife an iPhone 3GS for Christmas. She totally wasn't expecting it. When she opened the package and saw what was inside, she went crazy with glee. Two years later she still has that phone, and it's become an indispensable tool. People refer to a lot of things as "the gift that keeps on giving," but it's especially true of the iPhone. Even the iPhone's basic functions via Apple's pre-installed apps can vastly expand the things you're able to accomplish while on the go; once you factor in all the apps on the App Store, the iPhone turns into a full-fledged, powerful, portable computer that quite literally fits in your pocket. Before I get into discussing which iPhone may be right for that special person in your life, there are a couple things to keep in mind before you decide to give an iPhone as a gift. Contracts I called the iPhone "a gift that keeps on giving" earlier, but it's also a gift that keeps on taking. You may think you're doing someone a favor when you give them a US$199 iPhone 4S (and they'll probably think so, too), but that lovely gadget also comes with a significant monthly expense attached to it in the form of a carrier plan. The cheapest possible (on-contract) iPhone plans in the US, according to the rate plan info on Apple's site: AT&T: $54.99 Sprint: $79.99 Verizon: $59.99 You might be able to tailor a cheaper pre-pay plan through one of these carriers if you buy an unlocked iPhone instead, but no matter how you look at it, the iPhone is going to incur a monthly expense. This may not be a big deal to you if you're giving the iPhone to your spouse or one of your children, but buying an iPhone for one of your friends or someone outside your immediate family is kind of like buying them a pet: it's not just a one-time gift, but an ongoing and expensive obligation. Buying an on-contract iPhone also makes it a bit tougher to keep it a surprise, unless you're planning on paying the monthly plan fees yourself. If you're buying an iPhone for someone outside your immediate family and you want to keep it under wraps, the best option is probably going to be buying one of the unlocked, contract-free models -- but keep in mind that those iPhones are significantly more expensive than they are when subsidized through a carrier. Carriers The carrier situation in the US is more involved than in most other countries due to the differing technologies US telcos use. Depending on which model of iPhone you're looking at giving, this could considerably affect your options. Apple currently offers four iPhone models, but the carrier compatibility situation is quite complex in the States: iPhone 3GS: AT&T only iPhone 4: GSM version (AT&T only) iPhone 4: CDMA version (Sprint or Verizon only) iPhone 4S: Technically universally compatible, but all models are locked to their specific carrier when sold -- even the "unlocked" iPhone 4S will only work on AT&T Different carriers also offer markedly different quality of service depending on where you are. AT&T is notorious for having terrible service in some parts of the US, so if your gift iPhone is going to someone who lives in an area with little to no AT&T coverage, Verizon or Sprint may be a better choice. Check each carrier's coverage map first before you decide which one to go with; if you give someone an iPhone that's locked to AT&T, but AT&T doesn't offer coverage in their area, you might as well have bought them an iPod touch instead. The three US carriers also have specific strengths to consider. While AT&T is the only one that supports simultaneous voice and data traffic (and also somewhat higher 3G network speeds, assuming you have coverage), Verizon's overall network coverage and reliability is considered top-notch. Sprint's data plans or support may also draw you in, especially if your intended recipient already has a phone on Sprint; the company is advertising heavily that it has the only "true unlimited" data plan for the iPhone, with no 2GB cap or overage fees. The carrier situation outside the US usually isn't quite so byzantine, because almost all other countries use the GSM standard instead of CDMA. The only specific carrier recommendations I can make for countries outside the US apply to Australia and New Zealand. For both countries my recommendation is the same: avoid Vodafone if at all possible. My experiences with Vodafone's networks in both nations have been almost universally terrible. Your best bet for sussing out the ideal carrier for you is to ask neighbors or coworkers who already have iPhones (and who commute/hang out in the same general area as you) how they feel about their carrier of choice. With that out of the way, let's look at which model of iPhone fits your gift-giving mood. Super-low budget: iPhone 3GS The iPhone 3GS is available at a very attractive price: free from Apple and nearly free ($1) from AT&T, but both incur a two-year contract. It might therefore look like a great option for a particularly budget-minded gift-giver, and in fact if you're looking at giving an iPhone as a Christmas gift to your teenager, this might be a good choice. The iPhone 3GS is old, though -- more than two years out of date. It lacks many features that owners of more modern iPhones have come to take for granted, like the Retina Display, faster processors, and much-improved cameras (including the forward-facing camera for FaceTime or Skype use). It's also only available on AT&T in the States, so if you wanted to go with Verizon or Sprint, you're out of luck. It also comes in only one capacity: 8 GB. That's going to be quite cramped for even light users; between apps, music, photos, videos, and other data, 8 GB just doesn't count for as much as it used to. The iPhone 3GS is quite far behind at this point in terms of its feature set, and it's unlikely Apple will continue to support the device with iOS updates for the same length of time that it will support more current iPhones. Although the iPhone 3GS is still a decent iPhone, I wouldn't recommend giving one as a gift unless your budget absolutely cannot handle giving an iPhone 4 instead. Low budget: iPhone 4 For just $99 more than the iPhone 3GS, you can get last year's flagship iPhone, the iPhone 4. Check out all the improvements that $99 gets you: More powerful processor, leading to better overall performance (especially in games) Much higher quality Retina Display Improved battery life Much better camera (5 vs. 3 megapixels in the iPhone 3GS) with an LED flash and improved video recording quality Front-facing camera for FaceTime Noise-cancelling microphone Compatibility with Verizon and Sprint (CDMA models only) The iPhone 4 is still a great phone, and it should offer plenty of power for most users with only one exception: like the iPhone 3GS, the iPhone 4 now comes only in an 8 GB capacity. That may feel even more cramped on the iPhone 4, because the pictures and videos it takes have much larger file sizes than on the iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 3GS is a decent iPhone, but the iPhone 4 simply blows it away no matter how you look at it. It's also a more attractively-designed phone, and Apple is likely to continue issuing software updates for the iPhone 4 for longer than for the iPhone 3GS. I know if I was receiving an iPhone as a gift, I would much rather receive an iPhone 4 than an iPhone 3GS. That's likely to be true of just about everyone. Higher budget: iPhone 4S (16 or 32 GB) Here we hit another $100-200 price jump (depending on which capacity you choose), but again that rise in price nets you some great improvements over the iPhone 4: Much more powerful processor -- up to twice as fast as the iPhone 4 for some applications Improved camera (8 vs. 5 megapixels in the iPhone 4) with face detection, 1080p video recording, and video stabilization Higher data capacity (16 or 32 GB versus 8 GB on the iPhone 4) Improved antenna (faster download speeds, better signal quality) Siri voice assistant The iPhone 4S will easily outperform the iPhone 4 at any processor-intensive task, especially gaming. Its camera is much improved, too, especially in low light situations; in fact, the iPhone 4S is arguably a great replacement for a low- to mid-budget point-and-shoot camera. The higher capacity the iPhone 4S offers over the iPhone 4 will also allow its user to store more music, photos, and apps on the device. 16 GB will probably be enough for light users -- people with small music libraries, not many photos, and only a handful of apps -- but it might start to feel cramped after awhile, especially if the user starts taking lots of videos with the built-in camera. A 32 GB iPhone 4S may be a better choice if the person using it has a lot of media; if this isn't their first iPhone, the person you're giving it to may already have lots of apps, too. [iTunes Match users can spend less time worrying about how to fit a music library on to the portable device. –Ed.] Let's be frank, though: Siri is the biggest selling point for the iPhone 4S. It may or may not come to Apple's other devices eventually, but for now the iPhone 4S is the only device that offers Apple's revolutionary new voice-driven interface. As corny as talking to your phone may seem at first, Siri is the kind of feature that seems perfectly natural (maybe even necessary) after using it for awhile. Money is no object: iPhone 4S (64 GB) Even with a two-year contract, the biggest, baddest iPhone on the block is going to set you back almost $400. The unlocked, contract-free version is an even more staggering $849 -- $20 more than an iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G model with the same storage capacity. Though the 64 GB iPhone 4S offers no other improvements over the smaller capacity iPhone 4S models, the higher capacity is definitely going to come in handy for "power users" with huge music libraries, hundreds of apps, thousands of photos, or any combination of those items. The 64 GB iPhone 4S is Apple's first iPhone to come in that capacity, and that's the model I snagged for myself. It holds all of my music (well, all the stuff I actually listen to anyway), almost 200 apps, over five hours of videos, and it still has enough space left over that I can take hundreds of photos or an hour of high-def video without worrying about deleting things first. That having been said, once you get into this pricing territory you have to start wondering whether an iPad 2 might not be a better gift instead. Though it's larger and less portable than an iPhone, it's also available without a contract commitment to any carrier. A 64 GB Wi-Fi-only iPad costs $300 more than the on-contract 64 GB iPhone 4S, but that bigger $300 initial outlay also saves you over $1300 in carrier fees over the course of two years. There's an iPhone for every budget now, from the free iPhone 3GS all the way up to the credit-card-slaying 64 GB iPhone 4S. As you go up the ladder the feature set expands along with the price, but the 16 or 32 GB iPhone 4S is probably going to be the sweet spot for most users. Regardless of which iPhone you give this holiday season, the person who receives it will almost certainly be very excited -- so long as he or she can afford the monthly service costs.
AT&T raises the price of iPhone 3GS from free to $0.99, refurb for a penny
Last Friday AT&T generated a lot of Twitter talk (and confusion) when it raised the price of the iPhone 3GS from free with two-year contract to US$0.99 with two-year contract. The "free" price of the iPhone 3GS was noted as being a major draw for price-conscious consumers by both AT&T and Apple when it was announced on October 4th, so the raising of the price to a nominal $0.99 was a bit puzzling. Adding to the confusion was the fact that the iPhone 3GS is still free with a two-year AT&T contract when bought directly from Apple. When we contacted AT&T again today to get more specifics on the price change, a company spokesperson told us, "I can't share anything specific on the reasoning" and went on to reiterate AT&T's official response, "Our brief statement is this: 'iPhone 3GS is still available at an incredibly low price and we're confident consumers will agree that this remains one of the best deals for a leading smartphone.'" MacRumors suggests that the price could be a way for AT&T to combat fraud, as the price of the phone cannot be applied to a user's AT&T bill and must be charged to a credit or bank-issued debt card. The requirement of a credit or debit card means that people using stolen identities to obtain the handsets have much less chance of getting one unless they've actually physically stolen the person's credit or debit card as well. This line of reasoning adds up considering the iPhone 3GS is still free through Apple. That is perhaps because Apple requires you to have an Apple ID with an associated credit or debit card tied to the account to make online purchases. Lending further credence to the "anti-fraud" theory is the fact that refurbished 8GB iPhone 3GS models now cost $0.01 through AT&T. The nominal penny fee is also likely applied to refurbished models to combat similar identity theft fraud by requiring a valid credit or debit card to be charged a single cent. Finally -- and perhaps unrelated to the new iPhone 3GS charge -- AT&T seems to be sold out of the iPhone 3GS online. We've asked the company what's behind the inventory shortage and are awaiting a reply.
NPD Group: iPhone 4, 3GS outsold Android phones in Q3
NPD's latest Mobile Phone Track service shows that Apple's iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS outsold other Android phones on the market in the US for the third calendar quarter of 2011 -- the same situation as results for the previous quarter. The iPhone 4 held the top spot, with Apple's two-year-old iPhone 3GS holding the second spot. It's no surprise the iPhone 4 claimed top spot, but it's a testament to how well the iPhone is revered among consumers that the iPhone 3GS -- which came out in 2009 –– outsold newer Android phones with higher screen resolutions and more processing power. The $49 price point through AT&T last quarter also must have helped. Here's the entire top 5 list for the quarter that ended September 30th: Apple iPhone 4 Apple iPhone 3GS HTC EVO 4G Motorola Droid 3 Samsung Intensity II Results for this next quarter, which runs until December 31, will be very interesting to see. Given the strong sales of the iPhone 4S, the fact that the iPhone 4 is now only $99, and the fact that the iPhone 3GS is free on a two year contract, Apple may very well hold the top three spots when NPD announces its Mobile Phone Track results for Q4 sometime in January 2012.
Apple releases iOS 5.0.1, fixes bugs plaguing battery life and document syncing
Get ready to fire up iTunes and plug in that iOS device, because Apple's just released iOS 5.0.1. The release notes are identical to the two beta releases, which include fixing bugs relating to battery life and document syncing, while also re-enabling app switching gestures that developers previously had access to on the original iPad. And for those down under, voice recognition has apparently been improved when dictating with an Aussie accent. Those not interested in the 790MB download from iTunes, can look for a 44.6MB delta -- including only the changes -- from their device Settings. You'll find photographic evidence of the latter after the break. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Judge tells Apple to reveal Australian contracts to Samsung
Things are really heating up between Apple and Samsung in Australia. In the war between the two electronics behemoths, a judge ruled that Apple Inc. must now provide Samsung Electronics Co. with copies of contracts with Australian mobile-phone carriers. If you remember this story, Samsung has sued Apple in Australia claiming that the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPad 2 infringe on patents that the company holds for various wireless technologies. For some reason, Samsung asserts in the patent lawsuit that carriers are contractually obligated to subsidize iPhone sales -- that's not surprising, since that's standard procedure for many carriers and many phone manufacturers. However, Australia Federal Court Justices Annabelle Bennett ordered Apple to produce agreements that it has with Vodafone, SingTel Optus, and Telstra if they don't agree on the assertion. Apple's lawyer Andrew Fox told the judge that "This is quite clearly a fishing expedition," and that Apple will fight the disclosure, suggesting that it's an effort to find other damaging evidence. The Samsung lawsuit was filed in September after Apple requested a court order to bar the sale of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia. Apple did win that battle, with an injunction granted on October 13. Apple has also been required to turn over 220 pages of documents to Samsung relating to the source code for the iPhone 4S firmware, but Samsung wasn't happy with what they got, stating that there was a "missing file."
Siri apparently won't come to older iPhones
Everyone's saying Siri won't come to older iPhones, but this report may be premature. It's based on an email Michael Steeber received from Apple support about a bug in Siri. The customer service rep was told by Apple's engineering team that "Siri only works on iPhone 4S and we currently have no plans to support older devices." Most people are focusing on the "have no plans" part of the response and overlooking the key word "currently". Yes, right now, Apple doesn't have plans to expand Siri, but these plans could change next month. It's not like Apple hasn't said one thing and done another before - remember the iPod, which was deemed to have a screen too small for video? Looking beyond words, there are other signs that suggest Siri won't be exclusive to the iPhone 4S. First and foremost, there's no technological reason why Siri won't work on older handsets. The iOS hacking community has managed to get Siri running, as a proof of concept, on the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and both iPad models. The major hurdle these developers had to overcome was Apple limiting Siri requests to the iPhone 4S. Siri can and does run on older hardware. Apple's just not allowing it, at least not yet. Apple may be proceeding slowly with Siri. It's a beta product and still undergoing refinement. Just look at Apple's Siri FAQ page and all the new languages that are being added. Apple's smart enough not to swamp their system by rolling out Siri to millions of iPhone 4 handsets at the same time they are still adding features. Apple customers just need to be patient and wait. Wait for Apple to flesh out the service and get it firmly established on the iPhone 4S. By that time, Apple will be done using the voice assistant to sell their flagship handset and will be ready to bring Siri to the iPhone 4 and possibly other older iOS devices.
Siri ported to iPhone 3GS, likes to kick it old school
Still clutching that 3GS in a jealous rage over your iPhone 4 and 4S toting mates who've been hooking up with Siri? Qwell your anger, friends, as iOS 5's favorite sidekick has been successfully ported to a 3GS by the same hacking pros (Steven Troughton-Smith included) that got her going on the 4 and iPod touch. Not only does Siri work on the older model iPhone, but the device also is able to connect to Apple servers. Take look at the video to see the action for yourself as we wait for our 3G to help us find the best waffle in Kansas. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Apple seeds iOS 5.0.1 beta 2 to developers, beta 1 was so yesterday...
If you downloaded yesterdays iOS 5 beta you might want to check that iPhone / iPad / iPod touch for an OTA update. No word on what's new in 9A404 -- a mere two builds from yesterdays 9A402 -- but the updated build should still bring solace to those suffering from battery-drain issues. We're getting errors trying to download the developer notes, but we'll update if we find anything new or noteworthy. [Thanks, Haseeb]
iOS 5.0.1 beta seeded to developers, battery life fixes and multitasking gestures in tow
Well that didn't take long. After officially commenting on iOS 5's battery woes, Apple's gone and issued a beta of iOS 5.0.1 for developers to help fix the flaw. Per the changelog, build 9A402 fixes bugs relating to battery life and iCloud document syncing, improves voice recognition for Aussies and re-enables multitasking gestures on the original iPad. That last item is of particular interest to iPad devs, who had their ability to enable four-finger gestures unceremoniously yanked by Apple in iOS 5's final release. We welcome these goodies with open arms, but here's hoping universal Siri support comes in iOS 5.0.2. Update: According to 9to5Mac, the iPad 2's Smart Cover passcode vulnerability has also been fixed. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Georgia Tech spies on nearby keyboards with iPhone 4 accelerometer, creates spiPhone
Ever plopped your cellular down next to your laptop? According Georgia Tech researchers, that common scenario could let hackers record almost every sentence you type, all thanks to your smartphone's accelerometer. They've achieved the feat with an impressive 80 percent accuracy using an iPhone 4, and are dubbing the program they've developed, spiPhone. (Although the group initially had fledgling trials with an iPhone 3GS, they discovered the 4's gyroscope aided in data reading.) If the software gets installed onto a mobile device it can use the accelerometer to sense vibrations within three-inches, in degrees of "near or far and left or right," allowing it to statistically guess the words being written -- so long as they have three or more letters. It does this by recording pairs of keystrokes, putting them against dictionaries with nearly 58,000 words to come up with the most likely results. The group has also done the same with the phone's mics (which they say samples data at a whopping 44,000 times per second vs. the accelerometer's 100), but note that it's a less likely option given the usual need for some form of user permission. Furthermore, they explained that the accelerometer data rate is already mighty slow, and if phone makers reduced it a bit more, spiPhone would have a hard time doin' its thing. The good news? Considering the strict circumstances needed, these researchers think there's a slim chance that this kind of malware could go into action easily. Looks like our iPhone and MacBook can still be close friends... For now. You'll find more details at the links below.
